. >> reporter: four years ago something thap penn something happened that could have shattered peaceful relations. chinese business people have decided they would set up a new china town. but they hadn't consulted with their japanese neighbors. a key member of the china town project. >> we wanted to bring together and create a network of chinese people living and working in this area. we just wanted to create some sort of structure. >> but the japanese merchants feared their area would be taken over. >> we can't accept the decision to turn this neighborhood with its rich history into a china town. >> groups from outside the district, joined the mounting opposition. emotions ran high. riot police were called in. he felt there had to be a solution. he met often with the chinese to discuss the future of the shopping area. as a result, he learned both sides shared the same goal. they wanted the area to prosper. they ended up agreeing it would be better if the chinese merchants, join the areas business association. together they could. >> we were on the same page. if they became contributing